Predicting the Next 10 F1 Champions: My Forecast Through 2035

🏁 Predicting the Next 10 F1 Champions (2025–2035)

No one can really predict the future in F1, but that’s never stopped me from trying. So here’s my annual breakdown of who I think will win the Formula 1 championship from 2025 to 2035. Some picks might seem bold, others maybe obvious, but all are rooted in a mix of trends, talent, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting.

2025: Oscar Piastri takes the throne

I think Oscar Piastri will come off the summer break like a man possessed and level up to secure his first F1 championship. In doing so, he’d edge out his McLaren teammate Lando Norris and finally break Max Verstappen’s dominant streak of four straight titles. It feels like Piastri has that quiet confidence and raw pace that’ll shine once the stars align.

2026: Back-to-back for Piastri

With new regulations and McLaren rumored to have nailed both the chassis and their engine partnership with Mercedes, I think Oscar goes back-to-back. The car will suit him, and McLaren looks poised to dominate early in the new era. But as F1 history shows dominance is never permanent. Will a three-peat be in play?

2027: Verstappen rises again?

In 2027 Max Verstappen wins his fifth world title, but not with Red Bull. I think he might jump ship to Mercedes, who are reportedly building the strongest power unit for 2026. If Max smells a better shot at a title, he’ll go for it, and if Mercedes is serious about returning to form, they’d gladly make room and break the bank.

2028: Verstappen makes it six

Assuming he makes that move, I don’t think Max slows down. In fact, he probably runs away with the 2028 title, cruising to his sixth championship with that same ruthless dominance. By this point, Max would have nothing left to prove, but he’s still out there proving it anyway.

2029: George Russell gets his moment

2029 is the year George Russell finally becomes world champion. Mercedes sticks the development, and Russell finally delivers on the promise Toto Wolff believed in all along. It’s a feel-good win, and one that validates years of hard work and near-misses. But the question is....can he do it again?

2030: Lando Norris silences the critics

In 2030, Lando Norris finally gets his first world championship for McLaren. It’s a super tight fight between him, Russell, and Piastri, while Ferrari starts to close the gap. This is the moment where Lando proves he’s more than just a fun interview and fast driver plus he’s a legit F1 champion. Meanwhile, Max? He’s probably off enjoying himself in WEC or IMSA by now.

2031: Piastri returns to the top

After a one-year break, Piastri is back on top and claims his third F1 championship. He edges out Lando once again and climbs the list of all-time greats. Other teams are playing catch-up and trying to figure out how McLaren keeps doing it. The Papaya team is riding high, but the grid is hungrier than ever to knock them off.

2032: Charles Leclerc finally gets his glory

Ferrari’s long road pays off in 2032 as Charles Leclerc wins his first F1 championship. It took years of playing catch-up with the new regs, but now the Prancing Horse is back in S-tier form. Leclerc holds off a tight group that includes Piastri, Russell, Antonelli, and even rising star Kenzo Craigie. Meanwhile, Red Bull Ford is finally showing title-contending signs again just in time for the next major rule changes.

2033: The Antonelli era begins

The final year of the 2026 regulation cycle ends with Ferrari still on top, but this time it’s Andrea Kimi Antonelli who takes the title. It’s a wild four-way title fight between Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull, but Antonelli holds his nerve. This win marks the beginning of what could be a major generational shift.

2034: Cadillac shocks the world with Oliver Wheldon

Formula 1 reverts to naturally aspirated engines in 2034 due to new sustainable lab made fuel mandates and that plays right into GM’s wheelhouse. With Cadillac using their decades of NA V8 expertise from NASCAR and WEC finally pay off. Oliver Wheldon wins the title in a shocking twist that no one saw coming. Is this a one-off fluke or the start of something major?

2035: Antonelli seals his legacy

The final year in this prediction sees Antonelli winning his second F1 championship with Ferrari, solidifying himself as one of the top drivers of his generation. The season ends with an all-time close title fight, the kind that defines a driver’s career and Andrea Kimi Antonelli delivers.

F1 is unpredictable. That’s what makes it great. But it’s also what makes predicting it so fun. These picks aren’t just guesses they’re stories I’d love to see unfold. Whether you agree or think I’ve gone totally off the rails, drop a comment with your own predictions. Who do you think wins the next 10 F1 championships?